Portret van Arthur Wellesley of Wellington 1780 - 1869

Gottfried Arnold Lehman created this portrait of Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, using an etching technique. The artwork offers a window into the persona of a figure who significantly shaped European history. Portraits like these served to solidify power and status, particularly in the context of early 19th century European aristocracy. Think about the concept of the “white savior,” a narrative often critiqued for its reinforcement of colonial power dynamics and the erasure of local agency. Wellington was a key figure in imperial and colonial expansion. The glorification of military figures like Wellington can be seen to reflect and perpetuate a social and political order rooted in inequality. How do we reconcile celebrating individual achievements with the need to critique the broader systems of power within which those achievements were made? The portrait invites us to consider the legacies of colonialism and the way historical narratives can be used to uphold particular social and political interests.